Coprosma plant named &#39;JWNCOPPS&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Coprosma repens  named ‘JWNCOPPS’ is disclosed, characterized by its vibrant red/purple foliage color, and shiny, narrow leaves. The new cultivar is a  Coprosma repens,  typically suited for ornamental container and landscape use.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Coprosma repens

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘JWNCOPPS’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the result of a chance discovery in a commercial nursery in Suffolk, England. The inventor, John Lord, a citizen of England, discovered the new variety as a single branch, naturally occurring mutation growing in a commercial planting of the parent variety, the unpatented variety Coprosma repens ‘Pacific Night.’ Although unpatented in the United States, the parent variety is protected by Plant Breeder's Rights in Europe, under grant number 26069. The discovery was made in the Spring of 2006.

After selecting and isolating the new cultivar, asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘JWNCOPPS’ was first performed in the same commercial nursery by vegetative cuttings in the Fall of 2006. ‘JWNCOPPS’ has since produced several generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘JWNCOPPS’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘JWNCOPPS.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘JWNCOPPS’ as a new and distinct Coprosma cultivar:

-   1. Vibrant red and greyed-purple foliage color -   2. Glossy, narrow foliage. -   3. Upright plant habit.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘JWNCOPPS’ are similar to the parent, ‘Pacific Night’ in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘JWNCOPPS’ differs in having brighter, more variegated foliage.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘JWNCOPPS’ can be compared to the patented commercial variety Coprosma ‘Fireburst’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,906. Plants of ‘JWNCOPPS’ are similar to ‘Fireburst’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, ‘JWNCOPPS has darker, brighter colored foliage, with dark purple margins compared to the light pink margins of ‘Fireburst.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘JWNCOPPS’ grown outdoors in Suffolk, England This plant is approximately 2 years old, shown in a 3 liter pot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘JWNCOPPS’ plants grown outdoors in Suffolk, England. Temperatures ranged from Approximately 1° C. to 8° C. at night to 1° C. to 18° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Coprosma repens ‘JWNCOPPS’ -   Age of the plant described: Approximately 3 years. -   Container size of the plant described: 3 liter commercial container. -   Propagation: -   Time to initiate roots: Summer: 20 to 25 days at approximately 20°     C. -   Root description: Fine, densely branched, non-fibrous, non-fleshy -   Plant: -   Growth habit: Upright. -   Pot size of plant described: 3 liter -   Height: Approximately 50 cm from soil line to top leaf. -   Plant spread: Approximately 30 cm. -   Growth rate: 30 to 50 cm per year, until a mature height of 150 cm. -   Stem diameter: Approximately 0.3 cm. -   Stem color: New wood: Near RHS Greyed-Green 198C. -   Stem color: New wood: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 175A. -   Branching characteristics: Well-branched, bushy habit. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 30 to 35 cm. -   Foliage: -   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, sessile.         -   Average leaves per lateral branch.—Approximately 10 to 20.         -   Average length.—2 to 4 cm.         -   Average width.—1 to 2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Shiny, leathery.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Shiny, leathery.         -   Pubescence.—Non pubescent.         -   Aspect.—Undulating margins, slight twist to overall leaf             blade.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple             185C, thick margin near Greyed-Purple 187A. Young foliage             under side: Near RHS Greyed-Purple 185C, thick margin near             Greyed-Purple 187A. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS             Greyed-Red 180A, margin near Greyed-Purple 187A. Mature             foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-Red 180A, margin near             Greyed-Purple 187A.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Greyed-Yellow 162D Venation color under side: Near RHS             Greyed-Red 180A. -   Flower: -   Flower type: Only male flowers observed to date. Small, polypetalus,     flowers occurring in axillary umbels. Corolla described, calyx     present, however, too minute to measure. -   Male flower description:     -   -   Flowers per umbel.—10 to 20.         -   Flowering season.—Spring.         -   Length of flowering.—Approximately 2 weeks.         -   Flower length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Flower width.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Outer flower surface color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 151C.         -   Inner flower surface color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C.         -   Petal length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Petal width.—Approximately 0.1 cm. -   Stamens:     -   -   Quantity.—5.         -   Filament length.—0.3 cm.         -   Filament color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 150C.         -   Anther shape.—Oblong.         -   Anther length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow 7C.         -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Black 202A. -   Other characteristics: -   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Coprosma has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates low temperatures to     approximately −5° C. and has been observed to tolerate high     temperatures to 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coprosma repens plant named ‘JWNCOPPS’ as herein illustrated and described. 